Mobility matters involve pressing socio-economic issues. Prioritizing speed and individual comfort come at a price to others and the environment. No surprise then that urban and inter-urban mobility is prominent in the public debate and heavily politicized. The debate about matters of mobility is far from over with new technologies and service concepts on the horizon. We invite you to discuss some of the most contested issues of present and future mobility.

The seminar is organized into two discussion rounds of one hour each. The first discussion round will address present mobility while the second-round concerns future mobility challenges. Each round has four main discussants that briefly present their role in the mobility discourse and a couple of contestable standpoints from their professional experience. This is followed by a moderated discussion between the discussants and the audience on a range of mobility issues.

1st Round ─ Present mobility challenges (Example topics)
The perceived and actual privilege of individual transport. Public transport subsidies as an expensive hidden transfer payment. Pedestrians at the bottom of the mobility pyramid. Legacy of long-distance rail and intermodality. The great divide between mobility and sustainability.

2nd Round ─ Future mobility challenges (Examples topics)
Promises and dangers from vehicle automation. A new role of public finance for traffic regulation. Prophesized concepts from vehicle-sharing, ride-hailing and mobility as a service. The potential survival of public transport. A hyperloop reality.

Please register your participation under economics@atadleradvisory.com. Make sure to indicate if you would like to function as one of four main discussants in one of the two rounds. For the main discussant’s accommodation can be arranged upon request. The seminar precedes the public PhD defense on ‘The economics of roads: congestion, public transit and accident management’ of Martin W. Adler which you are cordially invited to attend on Friday the 1st of March 2019 11:45am, in the aula of the VU Amsterdam.